Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

7 June 2025

Reading From John 17

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”—John 17:20-23

True salvation is found in knowing God and being known by Him. This is experienced through the cultivation of healthy, balanced, growing relationship with the Father through the Son by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Relationship with God is initiated by the drawing of His Spirit which has been poured out on all mankind, beckoning whosever will believe, confess, repent and receive Him to come unto Him and be born again.

Relationship with God is a reciprocal partnership made possible by grace through faith. Grace is the undeserved favor of God and faith is belief and trust in Him who is unseen. When a person realizes the need for God and His forgiveness in their lives, the realization opens the door for Him to work His wonders within them and through them.

As we grow up in our salvation as His sons and daughters, we relinquish control to Him. As more of ourselves gives way to more of Him, we gradually become like Him. This increases our unity both with Him and with one another. The things about ourselves that do not honor Him are pruned off, causing us to focus our attention and affection on Him and thrive in spiritual health.

Salvation is an event (the born again experience), a process (sanctification) and a goal (glorification). The very goal of our faith is to glorify God and enjoy perfect unity and harmony with Him as part of His eternal family. This will be fully realized at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb where the Church will become one with Christ in the glory of the Father. The Spirit and the Bride invite all of creation to “come!”

“Lord Jesus, Your Gospel is a beautiful mystery. There is so much about You and Your Word that I have yet to learn. I have followed You for over thirty five years and yet anytime I read Your love letters I discover another facet to Your awesome glory. Guide me by Your Spirit into all truth. Thank You for being You. In the Name of Jesus I pray these things. Amen.”

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”^[b]—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

—I Corinthians 2:9-10